The newlyweds: Zoe Stenmark, 26, Curator at Stenmarked and Lewis Roberts-Thomson, 30, AFL Player for the Sydney Swans

Big day: October 19, 2013

Guest list: 180

Ceremony: Shore Chapel, North Sydney, NSW

“Our ceremony was at the Shore Chapel, an Anglican church. Lewie attended Shore Old Boy’s so to be married at his Alma Mater was extremely special. I also went to school in the area and was involved in choirs and musicals with Shore, so I spent a fair bit of time there too. Not only was the sentimental value important, but the chapel is so traditionally beautiful and the views from the chapel lawns are breathtaking.

Reception: The Museum of Contemporary Art, The Rocks

“There is nothing like the Foundation Hall at the MCA. It has breathtaking views, the interior has a beautiful an old world charm and glamour about it, and best of all we could fit all our guests. The history of the venue was also very special and we loved that. Not to mention that view – it’s one of the best in the world! The high ceilings, marble columns and recesses and the detailing on the dance floor are all such beautiful features you can’t find anywhere else. It’s stunning.

Photography: GM Photographics

Wedding style: “It was Black-tie, traditional and romantic. Your wedding day is unlike any other day and we wanted guests to understand the importance that we placed on the commitment we were making. Keeping it traditional help to portray that, it’s also timeless. I love getting dressed up (what girl doesn’t), so having a black-tie theme was a bit of fun. I loved seeing all our friends and family in their floor length gowns and the men in tuxedos. It’s a rarity these days! The ceremony was filled with love. Everyone was smiling and it truly was the best part of the day. The ambience of the Foundation Hall was romantic and warm but there was also a great atmosphere of fun. Everyone was having a fantastic time, which is all we could ask for. At the end of the day the aim was a celebration of love, friends and family.”

Dress: “I wore a Steven Khalil dress that I designed – with my favourite feature being my must-have pockets. The dress was ivory with a sweetheart neckline and off-the-shoulder lace detail and a silk gazar skirt. The French tulle overlay featured hand-appliqued French lace, and the bodice was also hand-appliqued in lace.

It was truly one of a kind and a work of art. I had such a specific idea in mind and had designed the dress in my head prior to my first meeting with Steven, down to the inclusion of pockets, which he’d never done before. Together we tweaked the design and with Steven’s incredible talent and vision, what I had imagined came to life. The ‘Steven Khalil’ experience is one I won’t forget. Not only is Steven an amazing person but his attention to detail and wealth of knowledge is unparalleled.”

Dress cost: Approximately $8,500.

Make-up: “My make-up artist, Mia, mixed the perfect nude for me from a few different lipsticks. The closest colour match would be Blankety by MAC Cosmetics.”

Perfume: “I wore Balmain Ambre Gris and Lewie wore Bleu de Chanel,which I gave him as part of his wedding gift.”

Hair: “My hair was two braids woven and pinned into an unstructured bun. Mia Hawkswell, my hair and make-up artist, is a genius. It is my favourite look ever.”

Headdress: “I wore a Cathedral length simple French tulle veil. I wore it traditionally, over my face. It complimented my gown perfectly.”

Jewelry: “The Cartier Love Bracelet has so much sentimental value. It was a gift from my husband a while back and it never leaves my wrist. My House of Emmanuele reception necklace was a piece that Emmanuele and I collaborated on together. It is a reworking of one of his mainline designs. I love that it is a one-off piece that I can wear again and it has the memories of our day attached.

Shoes: “I wore Leopard Pony Hair Christian Louboutin heels. While our day was traditional and classic, I wanted to tap into my fashion roots and wear something a little different on my feet.”

Bag: “I had a custom Perspex clutch with metallic silver insert made with our names and our wedding date on the clasp.”

Something borrowed, something blue… “My something borrowed and something blue had such special meaning. My mum gave me her garter (lace with a duck egg blue ribbon) and lent me a handkerchief with the initial ‘S’ on it that was given to her by my grandmother. Having those with me was so special, particularly since my grandmother is no longer with us.”

Rings: “My engagement ring is a round brilliant solitaire with full pave band. My wedding bands are pave eternity rings. Lewis has a Cartier Love Ring in white-gold as he wedding band.”

Groom’s outfit: “Lewie wore a bespoke suit, shirt and bow-tie by P Johnson Tailors. His shoes were by Lanvin and monogrammed Tiffany & Co cuff links I gave him for his 30th birthday.”

Bridal Party: “We had four bridesmaids and four groomsmen.”

Bridesmaids’ dresses: “The bridesmaid’s dresses have a funny story. From the get-go I had a style and colour in mind (an older collection Lisa Ho gown) and could not for the life of me find anything similar. I had come to the conclusion that they’d have to be made, which had become a task with all my bridemaids in different areas and one interstate. When I heard Lisa Ho (available at Myer) was having her closing down sale I decided to take a look on the off chance that I’d find the gown I had in mind. I didn’t find it but there was something even better! I spotted a dress I’d loved from the recent collection. After a quick discussion with my mum, I decided to change styles and colours all together. Lucky for us they had four dresses in the right sizes. It was fate because not only did I love them, but the girls did too.”

Invitations: “Our invitations and stationary was from Bespoke Letterpress. I always knew I wanted letterpress invitations. I love that extra detailing and the classic charm of this process. I really wanted the invitations to be in line with the timeless and classic nature of our wedding day.”

Menus & Place cards: “We combined our menu and place card as one, along with the table numbers and seating chart. They were made by The Style Co. My bridesmaids and I, along with my mum, actually did a little DIY with the menus. We decided to incorporate our menus and place cards into one so each menu had the guests name on it. We spent a weekend making velvet ribbon bows to combine the napkin and the menu/place card together for a special touch. It was so rewarding to see all our hard work on the day.”

Flowers: “The brief to our florist was an abundance of fluffy, romantic blooms in shades of white and blush. My bouquet was peonies and David Austin roses in creams and whites and very pale blush pink. My bridesmaids had smaller versions. The groom and groomsmen wore David Austin cream rose buds.”

Wedding eve: “My bridesmaids, mum and I stayed in the Royal Suite at the Four Season in Sydney the night before the wedding. We had a great night relaxing and reminiscing. Those are memories I won’t forget. The next day we got ready there, which made it very easy and hassle free. The day went flawlessly, not a hitch. I couldn’t have been luckier.”

Service: “We were so incredibly lucky to have been married by Rev. Nick Foord, who was absolutely wonderful – down to earth, invested in our relationship and truly a fantastic man. We also had a blessing from the Catholic priest who married my parents (he was also my dad’s headmaster), who’s been a big part of my life since I was born, so the whole ceremony was very special.”

Menu: “We had a three-course sit down dinner with canapés on arrival, roving desserts and wedding cake. We drank Laurent Perrier champagne, but also offered white and red wine, beer and soft drinks.”

Canapés:

• Crostini of Pea, Chilli, Mint, Lemon & Ricotta
• Peaking Duck Pancake
• King Prawns
• Blue Swimmer wonton basket
• Persian feta tart

Alternating drop-menu (for entrée and main)

Entrée:

• King Prawn Tortellini
• Caramelised Onion & Goats Cheese Tart

Main:

• Roasted Beef Eye Fillet
• Fennel Salted Ocean Trout

Dessert: Canapé style

• Classic Crème Brulee
• Mini Chocolate Silk Honeycomb & Strawberry
• Wedding Cake Finger Portions

“We also dessert and cheese bars.”

Wedding Stylist: “The beautiful angel, Anthony Del Col, was my wedding coordinator from day one. He was an incredible man who was just as invested in our big day as I was. He was my organiser and enforcer (always with a smile). At our first meeting I brought him an iPad full of images with my must-haves and must-nots. I was pretty set on the details of the day and he was more than happy to help me make it happen. He coordinated my dream team of vendors and kept the budget and run sheet up to date. Most importantly he was another bridesmaid and a friend. Devastatingly, Anthony passed away a few months before our big day. Wedding planning stopped. I wasn’t sure that it would be possible to feel the same way about our big day without Anthony there to see it all happen. After a period of time, it became clear that I had to continue planning the day otherwise all of Anthony, and my work would go to waste. I knew there was only one company who could help so I contacted the amazing Marie at The Style Co. Marie, Sarah and Lauren came to my rescue. They were my guardian angels. Without Marie’s incredible team the day would not have happened, they are the best of the best.”

Decorations: “I had a pretty specific vision for the reception and I wanted the theme to be continuous throughout. I paid close attention to the smaller details. From the personalised monogrammed pillows for the outdoor furniture and the bench seating to the flowers, candles and Aesop hand wash and hand cream in the bathrooms, to the cut crystal on the bridal table and Bombardier Designs ‘Mr & Mrs Roberts-Thomson’ candles. The little things tied it all together and as a result, the overall aesthetic came together so well. It was exactly as I had envisioned.”

Reception flowers: “The best weddings we have attended have one thing in common – they are always a true reflection of the couple. We wanted our styling to reflect our taste. Having fresh flowers in our home is an indulgence but it’s also something that adds a feeling of love, warmth and a welcoming vibe. We wanted our reception to feel the same way so having lots of flowers and greenery was important to both of us. I always gravitate to the same flowers – David Austin roses, hydrangea and peonies so I went to Sean of Mr Cook with a folder full of reference images, a list of flowers I loved, and a list of those I definitely didn’t want to use. We talked it through and decided on flowers that were in season and compliment our theme.”

“The abundance of flowers added to the romantic atmosphere. Looking back on our photographs it was just so beautiful. We had low arrangements grouped together, complimented by candles on the guest tables and low arrangements running across the front of the bridal table, two breathtaking floral tables on the balcony outside and another on the bar along with a floral backdrop behind the dessert and cheese table.

“The archway was covered in flowers. We stood before it for the candle blessing ceremony and as we exchanged our personal vows was one of my favourite styling elements.”

“Our custom designed neon light (by NeoLite Neon) that was hung above the band in front of the dance floor topped off the reception. Lewie and I came up with the wording and found a font we liked, then Neolite matched it as best they could. The sign reads, ‘This is love’ and it now hangs in our house. It’s such an amazing piece of art and something that we will forever treasure.”

“We had furniture from Decorative Events and Décor of Distinction on the balcony and through the venue along with white Tiffany chairs from Events by Nadia at the tables.

“We had eight chandeliers from Chandeliers To Die For with three of those hanging over the bridal table and the rest throughout the room. They added to the ambiance creating an extra element of romance and old world glamour along with a little a wow factor.”

“We had hundreds of pillar candles spread over the guest tables, windowsills and in hurricane lamps outside. This created such a warm, romantic and welcome atmosphere.”

Entertainment: “We had a 9-piece band with a horn section, which was absolutely amazing. Our guests were absolutely enamoured with The Usual Suspects. The whole planning process (through Funkified) was incredibly easy, particularly with the surprise I had in mind. Gus and his team were so flexible, accommodating and professional. They left no doubt in my mind that they would be one of the greatest successes of our wedding reception (and they were). Everyone was up and dancing all night. They are immensely talented and nothing was left to chance. I could not have been happier with how the entertainment came together and this was particularly important coming from musical families.”

“Before our first dance (and my song), I changed up my makeup and added a berry lip and my custom House of Emmanuele necklace for a more relaxed ‘party’ vibe.”

“I surprised everyone (only my parents knew) by singing for Lewie. I have been singing since I was 5-years-old. Lewie has only heard me perform a few times and many of our friends weren’t aware that I’d been singing for such a long time. For two years I kept it a secret. Over our engagement so may people, including Lewie’s family, asked if I would sing. It was so hard to keep it quiet! I sang Hold On by Michael Bublé played (and backing vocals) by The Usual Suspects.”

Music: “We had a great mix of current hits such as Coldplay, Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce and a heap of older tracks from artists like – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Queen, Michael Jackson etc.”

Bridal waltz: song? “We danced to Have I told you lately by Van Morrison. This song has a lot of sentimental value for both of us. My dad sang it to my mum at their 20 year anniversary vow renewals and it also has a special meaning for Lewie’s parents.”

Wedding cake: “We actually sourced our cake from two vendors. Chocolate mud, white chocolate mud and red velvet were our must-haves. We visited Antony at Planet Cake and tasted their chocolate and white chocolate mud cakes and we were sold! But we couldn’t find a vendor who made the red velvet cake I was after. The cake I was comparing it to was from Ghermez cupcakes so Anthony Del Col approached them and they were fantastic in making a red velvet kitchen cake for us.”

Bonbonniere: “We had a Lolly Bar with personalised M&Ms and Dancing shoes. I absolutely love lollies, so this was the perfect favour for our guests. I sourced all the lollies and jars myself then Marie and her team put it all together for us on the day. I even used a parcel forwarding service to have 10 kilos of personalised M&Ms with our monogram sent from the USA. We also had a basket of black or white rubber ‘dancing thongs’ for our female guests to change into and take home. They were a hit!”

Transport: “We had Rolls Royce, which had great significance to me as my parents had the same cars.”

Best advice for other brides? “Stay true to your own aesthetic and what you’d like for your big day. There will be a lot of opinions but don’t feel pressured to take it all on board.  Also, anything that goes ‘wrong’ can be fixed. Remember the reason you’re there – to marry the love of your life. If you do that, then it’s the perfect day.  Oh and if you want to make a speech go for it, you might be nervous but the nerves will all fall away and it’s definitely worth being able to personally thank everyone.”

Anything you wish you’d known? “I had a lot of great advice when it came to enjoying the day, I wish I had really understood how fast it does go. It’s surreal, you are, as I like to say, ‘adrenalin drunk’ – everything just flew by and is just so overwhelming.”

Best decision you made? “Other than marrying Lewie? Ha, ha! I can’t choose one thing – everything was exactly as we had dreamed. Not compromising on the things that meant the most to us. That’s definitely the best decision we made. Oh and having both our Videographer and Photographer staying until the end. They followed us to our hotel (we were staying across the street from our reception venue) and we caught some incredible moments on film as a result.”

Anything you’d change about your day? “That it’s over. Can we do it again?”

“We had a blessing candle ceremony on arrival to the reception (prior to entrée), which was led by Father Quinn (my dad’s headmaster and the priest who married my parents). The ceremony consisted of us saying some personal vows and promises followed by our parents lighting their family candles. Then we lit our candle from theirs. This signified the union of our families.”

“I designed two monograms and had custom embroidered cushions made. They featured on the outdoor furniture and along the banquet seating inside the venue. These were mixed with plain white cushions and grey and white chevron cushions.”

“We had an entrance table that featured our signing book (made with photographs from our engagement shoot with Graham at GM Photographics, vases of flowers and candles. But the most special items were the photos of our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents on their wedding days. We also had a photo of me, my bridesmaids and Anthony Del Col to honour him and all his work and our friendship.”

The W-day Suppliers:

Photography: Graham at GM Photographics

“My family had worked with Graham and the GM Photographics team before, so when it came to choosing our photographer we didn’t look anywhere else. Graham and his team, particularly Tim, Lauren and James, were wonderful. They are truly the best in their field. Not only are they professional, they have the amazing ability to be able to relax any situation (Tim saved the day on a few occasions – he was like one of the bridesmaids), keep everyone smiling and best of all produce absolutely breathtaking shots.”

Dress & Veil: Steven Khalil

Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Rings: King Street Design (Bride) + Cartier (Groom)

Reception necklace: House of Emmanuele

Hair & make-up: Mia Hawkswell (hair for bride & make-up for all) , mia@miahawkswell.com. Jayde Turner–Ledwidge at Edwards & Co (bridesmaids and mother of bride hair).

Groom’s outfit: P. Johnson Tailors (suit, shirt and bow tie). Shoes by Lanvin from Mr Porter. www.mrporter.com

Bridesmaids: Lisa Ho

Wedding planner:  The Style Co (03) 9425 9797

Invitations & stationery: Bespoke Letterpress hello@bespokepress.com.au

Florist: Mr. Cook (02) 9363 5550

Ceremony venue: Shore Chapel (02) 9900 4734

Ceremony music: Funkified – Salt Strings (02) 9043 5440

Reception venue: MCA Foundation Hall (02) 9245 2400

Entertainment: Funkified – The Usual Suspects (02) 9043 5440

Cake: Planet Cake (02) 9810 3843

Bomboniere: “We had a candy bar that I put together with the help of The Style Co.

Caterer: Culinary Edge (02) 9554 7252

Transport: Roll up in a Rolls (02) 9540 9877

Videography: Moving Presentations (02) 8091 2402. “Mark and his team are unlike any others in their field. They are incredible storytellers and capture the day and its essence so perfectly.”

Registry: David Jones 1300 300 111

Honeymoon: “Two weeks at Qualia on Hamilton Island.”

Monogrammed cushions: Sew Gracious

Monogrammed Mr & Mrs Candles: Bombardi Designs

Crystal glassware for the bridal table: Victoria’s Basement

Blessing Candle: Susan’s Candles

Robes for bridal party: Pretty Plum Sugar

Mnologie custom perspex clutch: www.mnologie.bigcartel.com

Archway for blessing ceremony: Bunnings

Do you love Zoe & Lewie’s wedding as much as we do? Tell us your thoughts below!…